GARVEY LIVES!
MOSIAH LIVES!
Historically, mainstream academia for the most part has not been kind to the Garvey Movement. (1) In this state of affairs can be seen as merely a reflection of its social function. (2) Even the advent of Black Studies movement, that emanated from the Black Power era, did little to redress this issue, arguably until quite recently. (3)
Yet there has also always been community scholars such as Arthur Schomburg, Carter G Woodson and John Edward Bruce (and a stellar array of Negro World editors and contributors), through to the likes of John Henrik Clarke and Tony Martin that have carried the torch for Garveyism. The Afrocentic Movement has in recent decades also tried to bridge the gap and its development of Afrocentricity International “to support the economic, cultural and educational elevation of African people in an effort to create cultural consciousness,” is a welcome innovation. (4)
The current period of protest seems like an ideal deal to forge (or re-forge) a symbiotic relationship between Afrikan scholars and the community. The need for, for example, “Think Tanks” as a “brains trust” serving our interests is a consistent demand and our scholars are ideally placed to undertake this work – should they be inclined. (5)
(1) Adam Ewing (01/04/16) Global Garveyism: Mapping Those at Home and Abroad. https://www.aaihs.org/global-garveyism/
(2) Dr. Kehinde Andrews (06/10/16) The Black Studies Movement in Britain. https://www.theblackscholar.org/black-studies-movement-britain/
(3) Ewing. Op. cit.
(4) Dr. Ama Mazama (01/09/14) The Mission of Afrocentricity International. https://dyabukam.com/index.php/en/afrocentricity-en/mission
(5) Afrika Speaks with Alkebu-Lan on Galaxy Radio (04/02/19) https://www.alkebulan.org/2019/02/04/afrika-speaks-with-alkebu-lan-on-galaxy-radio-040219-how-can-think-tanks-help-build-our-community/; https://www.mixcloud.com/AfrikaSpeaks/how-can-think-tanks-help-build-our-community-040219/
We ask the question:
What is the role of Scholarship in Afrikan Liberation?
1) Who is the primary audience (the community? academic peers? our oppressor? All of these)?
2) Do our scholars have a responsibility to the community? Should they?
3) What responsibility does the community have to Afrikan scholars, if any?
4) What is the best way for the community to make use of the scholarship that is produced?
Our special Guest:
Bro. Tristan Samuels: received his Honours B.A. major/minor in History & Classical Studies from York University. He earned his M.A. in Egyptology (via Near & Middle Eastern Civilizations) at the University of Toronto. Currently, he is a doctoral student in Africology at Temple University. Tristan’s main interest is Classical African civilizations, specifically Kemet (ancient Egypt) & Kush. Bro. Tristan has also taught a range of under graduate classes at Temple including: – The History & Significance of Race in America; Representing Race; Afrocentricity; Mass Media and the Black Community; Sport & Leisure in American Society; Blacks in World History; Black Politics in America and Urban Black Politics.